Celebrating 11 Years of Same-Sex Marriage đź’Ť
Today marks the anniversary of a landmark moment for equality — 29 March 2014, the day the first same-sex marriages took place in England and Wales. This historic change was the result of years of tireless campaigning, with the Liberal Democrats playing a crucial role in making it a reality.
The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 was championed by Lynne Featherstone, the Lib Dem Equalities Minister at the time. Under the Coalition Government, she pushed forward legislation that gave same-sex couples the right to marry, overcoming opposition to ensure marriage equality became law.
The passage of the law was a huge step forward for LGBTQ+ rights, ensuring that love and commitment were recognised equally, regardless of gender. But while this was a significant victory, the Liberal Democrats have continued fighting for further progress, from tackling discrimination to improving trans rights and banning conversion therapy.
LGBT+ Lib Dems Co-chair Luke Allan said:
“Today is a proud day for our party, our dedicated campaigners, activists, parliamentarians past and present – but most importantly, a proud day for LGBTQ+ people in the UK.
“One of the key reasons I joined the Liberal Democrats was our long history of championing LGBTQ+ equality, standing up against conformity to ensure everyone can live with the freedoms and respect they deserve. Standing up for what is right, not throwing our LGBTQ+ communities under the bus for votes.
“We are proud of the role we played in delivering same-sex marriage but there is still more to do. We remain committed to building a fairer, more inclusive society where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.”
As we celebrate this anniversary, we remember the campaigners, activists and politicians who made it possible. While we reflect on how far we’ve come, we must also recognise the work still ahead to achieve true equality for all.
Campaigners rallying outside the Houses of Parliament as the Marriage (Same-Sex Couples) Act 2013 received its unopposed third reading in the House of Lords on Monday, 13 July 2013.